Jan 30 2009

Gradoux-Matt Rare Violins

I played violin growing up (for 13 years, actually!), and was, for a time, very into it, though I was neither really talented or disciplined enough to have ever pursued it as a carreer… I do love stringed instruments, though, and still play my violin on occasion– mostly just with my fiance for our band The Price of Ice…

I have walked by this shop so many times and kept meaning to drop in and ask if I might document the violin-makers… or the repairs, or… whatever they do in there! To my delight they were pleased to let me come in and watch and shoot a bit. I hope to go back and continue to document the process as they build a cello that looked to be in the initial stages–below you can see the owner shaping it’s back one chisel-stroke at a time… The interiors of places like this are so fascinating to me, I just love all the little details.

The shop is called Gradoux-Matt Rare Violins, and is on 28th street between Park and Madison. They do everything from repairing stringed instruments of extreme value and signifigance for some of the most famous musicians in New York … to renting starter violins to students like the young girl here– she was there with her mother to pick up her first violin, and boy she was excited to get her hands on it! It was a pleasure to see…here are my favorites, though I am noticing these blog versions are looking mighty dull and green for some reason- the originals are much warmer and prettier, I assure you 🙂

violinshop_bysarahtew01